Multiple throttle for locomotives



June 25, 1929. G. F. PIPPY V MULTIPLE THROTTLE FOR LOCOIOTIVES I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll INVENTOR.

950295. f? P/PPX ATTbRNEY.

Jun: 25, 1929. G. F. PIPPY 1.718.3

' MULTIPLE THROTTLE" FOR Locouonvss Filed April 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEOPGE FP/PPK INVENTORQ ATTORNEY.

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES 7 1,718,376 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I. PIPPY, OF EAST ORAN GE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN THROTTLE COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE THROTTLE FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed April 19, 1927. Serial-N0. 184,901.

This invention relates to locomotives equipped with so-called smoke tube superheater-s, and more particularly to a combined superheater header and throttle housing for use in such locomotives. The purpose of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of header throttle combination whereby certain disadvantages of prior arrangements are removed and certain advantages obtained, as will be understood from a reading of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings Fig. 1 shows a portion in longitudinal central section of the frontend of a locomotive equipped with my improvement; Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1 with the smoke-box sheet cut away for the sake of clearness, the right portion of the header and throttle housing being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification; Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 of a modification; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of a further modification.

The general arrangement of the locomotive superheater, etc., in which my invention is to be used may be one of several, the one shown in'Figs. 1 and 2 being a typical one and used only by way of illustration.

The boiler shell is shown at 1 and the smoke-box shell at 2. 3 is the front flue sheet from which extend backward toward the fire box the lines 4. Into these fines extend the tubular superheater elements 5. Their forward ends are joined upward to connect to the bottom of the superheater header 6. One end of each element opens through one of the holes 7 into one of the lingers 8 while the other end of each element opens through one of the holes 9 into'one of the fingers 10. The fingers 8 and 10 are intermeshed. The former all open into the transverse chamber 11 while the latter open into a common space 12 at the forward end of the header. There is thus no direct communication between the chambers 11 and 12. Steam from the steam dome comes through the dry pipe 13 and enters the chamber 11. To get into chamber 12 it must first flow through the superheater elements or units 5 during which flow it becomes superheated.

The ends of the superheater elements 5 are secured to the header in any preferred way, the one practically standard in this country being by means of a bolt and clamp.

The gases from the fiues 4 leave the smoke box by way of the stack 14.

As far as described, this arrangement is a usual and well-known one.

It has become quite common to control the flow of the steam from the boiler to the engine by throttling means located at a point between the superheater and the two engines. A very compact and favorite arrangement is that patented to Ray M. Brown in U. S. Reissue Patent 16,285 dated March 9th, 1926. This covers an arrangement of a plurality of relatively small throttles which can be opened and closed in any desirable sequence. The presentinvention follows the Brown patent to the extent .that it also uses a plurality of throttles. It presents, however, a more accessible and convenient arrangement of these throttles which will now be described. I

The throttles (of which there may be an convenient or desired number) comprise eac 1 a valve body 15 and a cylindrical piston 16 connected by the stem 17 There is an extension 18 on the valve end and another extension 19 on the piston end. The latter has on it two spaced collars 20.

These throttles are placed in a horizontal position. Their valve bodies 15 control the ports 21 in a partition 22, while the pistons 16 reciprocate in the cylindrical openings 23 in the partition 24. The partitions 22 and 23 divide the interior of the chamber 25 into three spaces, a forward one 25 an intermediate one 25 and a rear one 25. The forward space 25 communicates with the space 12 by means of the passage 26 which preferably extends clear across the entire length of the header.

The forward wall 27 of the front space 25 has in it a series of openings-28 opposite the ports 21. These openings are circular and large enough to insert and remove the valves. They are normally closed by caps 29 which are each provided with a circular recess 30 acting as a guide to the stem 18 of the valve.

From the intermediate chamber 25 lead the two connections 31-31 to which are connected the two steam pipes 3232.

The horizontal shaft 33 held in the bearings 3434 is provided with a series of bifurcated or duplicate arms 35 engaging the two collars 20. The rod 33 is rotated from the cab bymeans of the extension rod 36 and arm 37 to actuate the valves. The sequence in which the valves open can be made anything desired by providing the necessary clearances be- When this small valve is opened steam will flow directly into the rear closed space 25, the pressure of such steam on the pistons V causing all the valves to become substantially balanced. They are thereupon readily opened by a further movement of the throttle lever.

The horizontalposition given to the valves by my arrangement makes access to them for purposes of inspection, repair and replacementa very easy matter. The front of the smoke-box must of necessity have an access door and any further means of access to the smoke-box becomes superfluous by my invention. WVhere valves are put into the vertical position, accessible from the top, it has been necessary heretofore to cut openings into the smoke-box sheet above the valves for purposes of access, such openings being closed by-doors or sheets. Inasmuch as no air must be allowed to leak into the smoke chamber, the introduction of these additional joints was highly objectionable. \Vhere' there were openings for the purpose of making the tubes of the headers accessible, such openings had to be enlarged thereby increasing the chance of air leakage and greatlyweak'ening the stiffness and strength of the smoke-box shell. It is common practice in large locomotive works to lift the entire locomotive from the tracks bymeans of ropes, chains or cables, one of which is slung under the smoke-box. \Vhen the locomotive is raised, the top of the smokebox' sheet is evidently under compression and where large portions of the sheet have been removed,-there is great danger of this sheet crumpling unless expensive staying means are in turn employed. All of these difiiculties are removed bymy invention.

In the variations shown in Fig. 3, the connections 31 instead of being below the header and throttle housing,lie above the latter. My improved arrangement isnevertheless avail able; the middle space. 9.5 in this case opening upwardly at 40 into the passage 41 which communicates with the connection 31. The connection to the other steam outlet 31 is similar.

Instead 'of keeping the entire valve housing forward of the fingers 8 and 10, I may place itabov'e them as illustrated in Fig. 4. Except for this change, this form is like the one just spoken of, the steam connections '31 extending upward and forward from the intermediate space 25. This variation gives a considerably smaller dimension from front to back and is employed where there is a lot of head room.

Instead of carrying the passage 26 through under the valve housing as'i'n the form of Figs. 1 and 3, itivill be desirable in some instances to carry it over such housing as illustrated in Fig. 5. In this case the steam connections 31 will be on the lower side similar to that of Fig. 1.

I claim 1.111 apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a locomotive smoke-box; a superheater header in its upper part; said header having a chamber extending transversely across the smoke-box; means to deliver saturated steam from the boiler to said chamber ;a series of aligned spaced forwardly extending hollow fingers communicating with saidchamber; a second set of fingers in the spaces between the first; a plurality of super-heater elements connecting the two sets; a second transverse chamber parallel to the first; an apertured partition dividing it into forward and rear spaces; valves controlling said apertures; means to conduct steam from the rear space; and a passage connecting the second set of fingers to the forward space.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive smoke-box; a superheater header in its upper part; said header having a chamber extending transversely across the smoke-box; means to deliver saturated steam from the boiler to said chamber; a series of aligned spaced forwardly extending hollow fingers communicating with said chamber; a second set of fingers in the spaces between the first a plurality of superheater elements connecting the two sets; a second transverse chamber parallel to the first; an apertured partition dividing it into forward and rear spaces; valves controlling said apertures; 'meansto conduct steam from the rear space; and a passage below said second chamber connecting the second set of fingers to the forward space.

3. In'apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive smoke-box; a superheater header in its upper part; said header having a chamber extending transversely across the smoke-box; means to deliver saturated steam from the boiler to said chamber; a series of aligned spaced forward ly extending h'ollow fingers communicating with said chamber; a second set of fingers in the spaces between the first; a plurality of superheater elements connecting the two sets; a second transverse chamber parallel to the first; twopartitions dividing it into forward, intermediate and rear spaces; the front partition having a series of aligned ports and the rear partition having a corresponding series ofaligned balancing cylinders; a plurality of valves having heads controlling said ports and pistons reciprocating in saidcylinders;

manually operable means to actuate said valves; means to admit balancing steam into said rear space; two downwardly extending steam pipe connections from the intermediate space; and a passage extending below the second chamber connectingthe second set of fingers to the front space.

at In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive smoke-box; a superheater header in its upper part; said header having a chamber extending transversely across the smoke-box; means to deliver saturated steam from the boiler to said chamber; a series of aligned spaced forwardly extending hollow fingers communicating with said chamber; a second set of fingers in the spaces between the first; a plurality of superheater elements connecting the two sets; a second transverse chamber parallel to the first; an apertured partition dividing it into forward and rear spaces; valves controlling said apertures and seating toward the rear chamber; means to conduct steam from the rearspace to the point of use; a passage below said second chamber connecting the second set of fingers to the forward space; and removable covers 011 the front wall of the forward space to give access to said valves.

GEORGE F. PIPPY. 

